Suzuki should acknowledge progress is being made

Re: “Honouring Suzuki a slap in the face to most Albertans,” Chris Nelson, Opinion, April 16.

As an undergraduate of the University of Alberta and a graduate in veterinary medicine from the University of Saskatchewan, I could not agree more with Chris Nelson that David Suzuki is the last person who should be given an honorary degree.

Having been involved for many years in research in the agricultural industry, I can assure Suzuki that genetic advancements have greatly increased production and efficiency, while at the same time, measurably reducing the carbon footprint in all areas of animal husbandry. We are doing our part to help feed the growing population.

Canada is recognized as a world leader in the field of genetic research in livestock and plants. Instead of criticizing Alberta’s key industries — oil and gas and agriculture — he should be recognizing its significant accomplishments for the betterment of society here in Canada and globally.

Dr. David Chalack, Rocky View County

David Chalack is past board chairman of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Industry and a past board member of the Alberta Energy Regulator.

U of A is putting support at risk

The University of Alberta is about to award David Suzuki an honorary degree. As a graduate of the U of A’s law school in 1970, a lawyer for more than 45 years and the current chairman of an Alberta heavy oil company, I find this proposed award to David Suzuki to be most offensive to the entire province.

Suzuki is a global environmental terrorist, constantly speaking out against the Alberta oil industry and particularly our oilsands, a resource that has fuelled Alberta’s and Canada’s economic growth over recent years.

He recently told Calgary teachers the oilsands must be shut down. Alberta has enough problems without this added insult from a resident of Vancouver.

By being anti-oil, Suzuki has become anti-Alberta. Giving him this award will be one of the worst mistakes the university will ever make. Its funding from the oilpatch will dry up. This will be its kiss of death.

Robert J. Iverach, Calgary

Too much being made of alleged dalliances

Re: “Porn star’s lawyer seeks Trump testimony,” March 29.

One has to wonder why there has been so much attention paid to U.S. President Donald Trump’s alleged extramarital affairs.

It is well known that over the centuries, world leaders have had extramarital affairs and mistresses. So what is the big deal with Trump?

There are more important issues related to Trump’s actions than his past personal life.

I expect that there is mild amusement in many countries about the fuss being made of Trump’s affairs.

Robert Dewar, Calgary

Statues should pay tribute to stricken hockey team

Re: “Stanley Cup visit cheers injured in hospital,” April 16.

As one who has played organized hockey in high school and college, I understand the camaraderie this team experienced and this camaraderie must continue.

I propose statues of the team members and the bus driver be made. The statues could be placed in the top section of the stands of the Humboldt arena. Statues seated, watching all of the home games, with the bus driver, therapist and commentator standing in the aisle supporting the others.

This team will always be together. Yes, the survivors, on the bus, or not, should be part of this team forever.

There’s a reason for Trudeau’s dithering over pipelines

I certainly hope Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will put Canada’s national interest ahead of politics and do what it takes to get the Trans Mountain extension built.

Unfortunately, he does not have a stellar record when it comes to pipeline construction. He sat on the sidelines on discussions into the Energy East pipeline as his two political power bases, Ontario and Quebec, were adamantly opposed.

This, even though both rely on Alberta oil for their federal transfer payments.

We can thank U.S. President Donald Trump for getting the Keystone XL pipeline moving forward.

Now, not wanting to alienate his base in B.C., as well as Quebec, Trudeau is in a difficult position. A lot of Trudeau’s pipeline waffling may well be the result of being influenced by his chief of staff, former environmentalist Gerald Butts, who is very anti-fossil fuels.

One thing for sure, Trudeau’s action on Kinder Morgan may well determine the fate of his party going forward.

Larry Comeau, Ottawa

Maritimer expresses sympathy for West

Frustration in light of the Kinder Morgan fiasco is running high in Western Canada.

This is totally understandable, looking at the run around from the federal government in Ottawa and of course B.C.

May I, however, assure the westerners that we in the Maritimes are totally on board with you. You are not alone.

We need your economy to boom, even if it to assure our children have jobs. But more so to keep transfer payments secure as well.

I, for one, do not understand the opposition to pipelines, knowing that we need oil and gas badly for many years to come. But most of all, it can keep Canada economically booming and maintaining our standard of living.

I am afraid that without the investments in pipelines, our good life in Canada will slowly erode.

Let’s keep fighting to get the job done. I urge all to contact your MPs and provide the pressure to get the job done, including the use of the military or police forces. After all, the law is on our side.

We are with you.

Dirk Larooi, Quispamsis, N.B.

Albertans are proving to be hypocrites

As someone who is old enough to remember the furor Albertans made about Pierre Trudeau’s attempt to create a national energy policy that benefited all Canadians, I am forced to object when they now claim they should be allowed to impose their will on British Columbia, because it is “in the national interest.”

Permit one who remembers the bumper stickers demanding we “let the eastern bastards freeze in the dark” to suggest that in this case, the easterners may drown in their own bitumen.

Premier Rachel Notley and her version of New Democrats have at least established that hypocrisy is not an exclusive province of the American conservative.

What Albertans so stridently demanded for themselves, they would now refuse to others. If, as they have always insisted, the natural resources of Alberta belong to Albertans alone, then the same must be true for British Columbians as well.

Viva la Colombie Britannique libre!

David Lowther, Mesachie Lake, B.C.

Arrested protesters should count themselves lucky

Re: “Lawyer fears protesters face ‘cookie-cutter‘ justice,” April 19.

It seems the lawyers representing protesters who are attempting to kill Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline are concerned the courts will not accommodate the time frames for the convenience of their clients.

These protesters knew they would be arrested, so they should have adjusted their busy schedules to allow for the court process.

This is especially disturbing when the courts are so clogged that they are releasing purported gang leaders because of court delays. To my 140 protesting friends – you should be thankful you are not locked up until your cases are dealt with.

Rob Butler, Cochrane

B.C.’s nifty way of reducing carbon emissions

British Columbia and all of its environmental activists are the best stewards of the land, sea and air in all of Canada.

They have a foolproof way of minimizing their carbon footprint by sending 29 million tonnes of coal to Asian jurisdictions. They are even kind enough to help our southern neighbour by shipping some of their coal out of B.C. port terminals.

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If it wasn’t so darn important to our city, there’d be some degree of smug satisfaction with the awkward position in which both the premier and prime minister now find themselves embroiled in with this whole pipeline brouhaha.

The last time I chatted with Jack Tennant was April 17, just a random Tuesday.
The longtime
, who also wrote for the Calgary Herald on occasion, started our conversation with a self-deprecating joke — or a kind of “Tennant Tidbit” that he made famous at the end of many of his columns.